December 02, Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lankan Government has introduced an expedited mechanism to ensure that relief supplies sent from abroad reach communities affected by recent flooding without delay. Under the new arrangement, consignments of essential items donated by international organisations, private benefactors and Sri Lankans living overseas will be cleared through customs under a simplified procedure and released free of all import taxes and related charges.
Officials noted that the initiative was developed in response to a surge of enquiries from foreign partners keen to contribute to humanitarian efforts following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah. Many donors had requested a clearer, quicker and less bureaucratic process so that relief goods—ranging from medical supplies to sanitation equipment and emergency food items—could be dispatched and distributed without hindrance.
The revised procedure aims to streamline documentation, reduce processing times and prioritise aid consignments at ports. Authorities have stated that this approach will help ensure that urgently needed supplies reach families in temporary shelters and flood-damaged settlements far more rapidly than under normal import protocols.
Guidance for donors, including details on the types of goods most urgently required, is available through the Sri Lanka Customs website, while further information on approved categories of aid and packing instructions can be accessed via the government’s official donations portal.
In a related development, the Cabinet has endorsed the creation of a new national fund titled Rebuilding Sri Lanka, intended to support long-term recovery efforts following the extensive destruction left in the cyclone’s wake. The fund, to operate under the authority of the Presidential Secretariat, will draw on both state and private-sector expertise to oversee reconstruction projects, strengthen disaster resilience and assist affected families in restarting their livelihoods.
The committee guiding the fund will be chaired by the Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr Anil Jayantha Fernando, with Senior Additional Secretary to the President, G. M. R. D. Aponso, serving as its convener. Officials expressed confidence that the fund will help coordinate and sustain national rebuilding efforts over the months ahead.
